New York Times: Conspiracy Theorists Are Clever But Mad

The New York Times ran a piece on 4th January 2015 in which Cass R. Sunstein, professor at Harvard Law School, suggests that “Conspiracy Theorists” have suspicious and paranoid natures.

Interestingly he suggests that being a conspiracy theorist points to being “spectacularly well-informed” on a given subject, but then goes on to ask “Why, then, do they accept theories that are patently inconsistent with reality?“

One reason involves their suspicious and in some cases paranoid natures. Want to know whether your neighbors will accept a particular conspiracy theory? Just ask them what they think about other conspiracy theories. Those who insist that the Apollo moon landings were faked are more likely to believe that the United States caused the 9/11 attacks.

In fact, people who embrace one conspiracy theory are also inclined to embrace another conspiracy theory that cannot simultaneously be true. In one study, people who said they believed that Osama bin Laden is alive and well were more likely to believe that he was dead before U.S. forces invaded his compound. The belief in a more central idea — that authorities are engaged in deceptive cover-ups — supports any number of skeptical theories, even leading suspicious individuals to disregard contradictions between them.

But conspiracy theories are not only a product of people’s natures. Social conditions matter. Horrible events — economic collapse, an assassination, a grievous loss of some kind — can make people who are scared and angry look for someone to blame, not least to assert a kind of mastery of the circumstances. The human mind is drawn to think that whenever something bad has happened, it is because someone bad wanted it to happen.

Popular Articles

Two people who were connected to the Flint water company investigation were both found dead in the space of a week this month. Water Treatment Plant Foreman, Matthew McFarland, and the woman leading the lead [...]

An ex illuminati member has penned a letter outlining the plans the secret society has in store for humanity in the next few years. After spending 47 years as a high-ranking illuminati member, the anonymous [...]

A Harvard immunologist has written an open letter explaining why unvaccinated children pose no risk to their vaccinated counterparts. Vaxxter.com reports: Dear Legislator: My name is Tetyana Obukhanych. I hold a PhD in Immunology. I [...]

79-year-old retired CIA agent, Malcom Howard, has made a series of astonishing claims since being released from hospital in New Jersey on Friday and told he has weeks to live. Mr. Howard claims he was [...]

Donald Trump has publicly spoken out about the dangers of vaccinations, and has said he believes that vaccines cause autism. Acknowledging that the subject matter is controversial, Trump said “I couldn’t care less. I’ve seen people [...]